Price Check OK, Got Some Numbers - Thoughts?

[dgl24087]

You might want to check on business hours before heading out, many dealers in my area are either closed or only open until noon on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

 

[WhisperingWinds]

You might want to check on business hours before heading out, many dealers in my area are either closed or only open until noon on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

Yep - the one I went to last week was only open til 2 on Sat and closed Sun. The others around here are all closed on Sundays. The next closest dealer is only open til noon on Saturday. I would have thought that weekends would be the best days to be open...guess that's why I don't run a dealership

 

[fabsroman]

Yep - the one I went to last week was only open til 2 on Sat and closed Sun. The others around here are all closed on Sundays. The next closest dealer is only open til noon on Saturday. I would have thought that weekends would be the best days to be open...guess that's why I don't run a dealership

I am doing some price comparisons right now on a zero turn mower. The dealers here are open 9 to 5 M-F and 9 to 12 on Saturday. That is kind of nuts. How does somebody with a 9 to 5, or later, job buy a John Deere mower? I guess they have to go in during that 3 hour window on Saturday. I'm my own boss with some flexibility in my schedule, but I decided to e-mail the dealers around me regarding the mower to see who has it in stock and what they want for it. Did the same thing with my F350 7 yeras ago and our Ford Focus this past August. The one with the lowest price and the mower in stock gets a visit to see if I like them. Did the same thing with the truck/car. Plus, I don't know about the price of gas around where you are, but around here it is $3.59 a gallon for regular. I'm not going to spend $50+ in gas and my time running around in a 50 mile circle to visit all these dealers.

Thing of the Yellow Book ad. Let your fingers do the walking.

 

[WhisperingWinds]

I am doing some price comparisons right now on a zero turn mower. The dealers here are open 9 to 5 M-F and 9 to 12 on Saturday. That is kind of nuts. How does somebody with a 9 to 5, or later, job buy a John Deere mower? I guess they have to go in during that 3 hour window on Saturday. I'm my own boss with some flexibility in my schedule, but I decided to e-mail the dealers around me regarding the mower to see who has it in stock and what they want for it. Did the same thing with my F350 7 yeras ago and our Ford Focus this past August. The one with the lowest price and the mower in stock gets a visit to see if I like them. Did the same thing with the truck/car. Plus, I don't know about the price of gas around where you are, but around here it is $3.59 a gallon for regular. I'm not going to spend $50+ in gas and my time running around in a 50 mile circle to visit all these dealers.

Thing of the Yellow Book ad. Let your fingers do the walking.

Well, fortunately I did do some emailing to dealers yesterday. Turns out just because you're listed on the JD website doesn't mean you sell every product. Other than the guy I went to last Saturday, the next closest ones that actually sell compact tractors are 30 miles away - in opposite directions! And only one is in an area that is economically comparable to here...the others are where my boss's boss's boss would live. I was able to get some prices via email when I bought my Harley last year so I'll see if I can get some numbers from that one guy before I hike out that way. And yeah, gas is about the same here as by you

 

[jenkinsph]

According to the JD website dealer search, there are 10 dealers within 50 miles of me, 5 of which are within 25 miles; 3 of those 5 are "Gold Star" dealers. So it would seem there's plenty of competition. The dealer I went to happens to be the closest and was recommended by friends who have bought there (they're also a gold star dealership). Probably would be a good idea to take a ride on the weekend and see what the other dealers have to say. Thanks for the idea!

I would think you are fortunate having so many dealers in your proximity. My nearest dealer is 75 miles away and the second dealer is 125 miles away.

About calling an or emailing, good to find out who has the inventory you want, but a face to face is needed to get serious pricing. Something I have done for major purchases such as a tractor, or truck is to carry two cashiers checks with me. One smaller check for $1000 as earnest money made out to the dealership and a second larger check for the remainder of the down payment, it shows you have the money and are really serious. I hold the second check to turn over when the new equipment is picked up. The dealer can "see the money" and if he makes a good deal can "have" the money.

 

[WhisperingWinds]

I would think you are fortunate having so many dealers in your proximity. My nearest dealer is 75 miles away and the second dealer is 125 miles away.

About calling an or emailing, good to find out who has the inventory you want, but a face to face is needed to get serious pricing. Something I have done for major purchases such as a tractor, or truck is to carry two cashiers checks with me. One smaller check for $1000 as earnest money made out to the dealership and a second larger check for the remainder of the down payment, it shows you have the money and are really serious. I hold the second check to turn over when the new equipment is picked up. The dealer can "see the money" and if he makes a good deal can "have" the money.

Well, CT is a small state so everything is pretty close by :laughing:

And yeah, calling and emailing are a good way to at least find out if they have what I'm looking for in stock and maybe a starting price. If they're way out of line or don't have what I want on the lot, at least I won't waste a trip out there.

 

[AKfish]

It's been my experience that emailing is the worst way to generate a response from dealers. They typically ignore emails...

I've had much better success calling, calling and calling.

Since 95% of the equipment (cars, trucks, trailers, tractors) that I've purchased over the past 20 years has been THOUSANDS of miles from my front door, I make it clear to folk's that I'm serious about buying and not about wasting their (or my) time!

If they come back with a "high and away - outside pitch" - I don't call back!

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[WhisperingWinds]

It's been my experience that emailing is the worst way to generate a response from dealers. They typically ignore emails...

AKfish

Guess I'm just used to emails now. I work from home and do most of my communication either through email or instant messaging. I think I can still work a phone tho - thanks for the advice!

 

[fabsroman]

Guess I'm just used to emails now. I work from home and do most of my communication either through email or instant messaging. I think I can still work a phone tho - thanks for the advice!

You and I are in the same boat. I have my own legal/CPA practice from home and usually rely on e-mails. Ended up sending an e-mail last night to another dealer in the area, Finch, Inc., and receive a phone call from one of their salespeople at 9:30 this morning. He told me that the IT guy had handed him the e-mail. He found the zero turn mower I wanted, but could not give me a discount on it. Since it is a 2011 Z445 with the 2010 transmission and engine in it, I didn't care. It cost $100 more, but it still qualified for the $250 rebate. The guy spent over 30 minutes on the phone with me telling me how upset he is that Deere went with a lower grade tranny and engine in the Z400 series for 2011. Ended up putting a $500 deposit on the mower, he is bringing it down from his dealership in PA today, and they will be delivering it next week.

I have no time to play phone tag right now with people just to see if they have what I want and if they seriously want to sell it to me. The guy found what I asked for, and that is good enough for me. Since it is the only one like it they have on the lot, I'm not going to haggle over a couple hundred dollars.

 

[WhisperingWinds]

You and I are in the same boat. I have my own legal/CPA practice from home and usually rely on e-mails.

Yeah, emails are a lot easier than the phone but as AKfish noted, they can get ignored...unless the IT guy comes along I'm not big on haggling but I do try to get a good deal. I should probably just let my fiance do it; she enjoys the haggling process and is very good at it. I'll just come along with the check when she's done